How to Choose a Good Place to Eat
As a Nutritional Therapist, I always encourage people to cook at home as much as possible, but there are special occasions when you go out to eat with friends, or sometimes you may be busy at work till late, too tired to cook and looking for something healthy to pick up on your way home. How do you find a place that would be good for both situations: a relaxed lunch with a friend or collecting a takeaway to enjoy at home after a busy day’s work? Do such places even exist?
71 Golders Green Road, London NW11 8EL
I made a great discovery in my neighbourhood one Sunday evening, just walking past a newly opened restaurant that had some REAL food displayed in its window. By real food I mean nothing pre-packed or industrial about it, just honest home cooked food made with fresh ingredients from scratch in small batches, right there and then, vibrant and appetising. I went in and had a chat with the owners. It turned out to be a family run restaurant, not part of a chain, which is always a good sign. The place was spotlessly clean, the tables and chairs fresh looking, glasses sparkling. The price list wasn’t exorbitant, and it's not often that one comes across healthy, delicious food at reasonable prices. All this made a good first impression, and as we know, first impressions count!
The first thing you notice when you enter is a colourful juice and smoothie bar, and this provides a healthy alternative to alcohol or sugar laden commercial drinks.
They are enthusiastic about food and follow a Mediterranean (mainly Greek and Italian) culinary tradition with some additions like quinoa salad (a taste of Chile and Peru), Lebanese tabouleh or Turkish okra stew, which provides a good variety. Quinoa will provide twice as much protein and more fibre than the same amount of white rice, so it makes it a better choice for those who are trying to keep their carbohydrates low. It is also a healthier choice for those who want to lose weight as quinoa will fill you up quicker and will allow a smaller portion size. Tabouleh is one of my favourite salads as it gives us a chance to use lots of parsley. Parsley contains many valuable nutrients and antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotenes and folate, flavonoids myricetin and apigenin, which lower the risk of colon cancer and heart disease, vitamin K, which helps to increase bone mineral density, lutein and zeaxanthin, which promote healthy vision, and much more. It has been well established that Mediterranean diet is very healthy, and the longevity of people in that region is often credited to their cuisine, which is wholesome and uses lots of olive oil, colourful vegetables, fish and seafood, lemons and aromatic herbs like basil, rosemary, oregano and mint.
There are also good vegetarian options like stuffed cabbage leaves, bell peppers, aubergines or cannelloni with cheese as well as a number of meat, poultry, fish and seafood dishes. The mains range from the well-loved classics like moussaka, steak or beef lasagna to chicken Milanese and seabass, and there are meat and fish dishes cooked to order too. If you are not too hungry, there are meat, cheese, vegetarian or mixed sharing platters. The menu is well thought out and varied. This immediately caught my eye, and I thought that whether you are on a Paleo, gluten free, pescatarian or vegetarian diet, there is a good choice of main and side dishes to satisfy your dietary requirements.
Apart from a wide variety of fresh home cooked food, there is a good range of wines, and although I usually do not encourage alcohol consumption, a glass of organic Italian wine could be a nice complement to your dinner occasionally.
I returned with my husband the following Sunday night for a meal and then with a friend for lunch one afternoon in mid-week. Both times the food was of good quality and full of flavour. What was a pleasant surprise was the fact that they were constantly changing and adjusting their menu. It seems to organically evolve to incorporate new ideas and new dishes every time you come, which reflects the love of food, energy and dynamism of the owners.
The waiting staff, who in fact are the owners and their family members, are very pleasant and friendly, attentive to your needs and provide a prompt service. They are keen to create a good reputation for their restaurant in the local community and willing to go the extra mile to please their customers. The chef, Aurel, is always smiling even when there is a sudden influx of customers and he comes under pressure to produce food quickly. His level of professionalism is high, and so is his love and appreciation of real home cooked food.
The vibe of the place is friendly, relaxed but efficient. In my experience, it ticks every box from the nutritional point of view!
I would recommend it for lunch with a friend or colleague if you live or work locally; it is also good for a Sunday brunch, a family outing or as a healthy takeaway option. You would do well to teach your children to appreciate different flavours and cuisines from an early age, so they don’t just eat pizza and chips when they are teenagers.
